Preventive medicine
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Understanding polysubstance use among US sexual minority adults is important to serve as a population-level baseline to promote health equity around substance use prevention and public health strategies. This study quantifies the number of substances used by sexual identity among US adults. ⋯ Tailored substance use prevention and public health strategies specializing in sexual minority populations are warranted.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2023
Associations of screen use with physical activity and social capital amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis of youths in China.
Inconsistent correlations of screen use with physical activity (PA) and social capital (SC) in youths have been observed in existing cross-sectional studies. This study aimed to elucidate associations among variables in screen use, PA, and SC domains during COVID-19, to improve the prediction and prevention of suboptimal health status in youths. An online survey based on the nationwide COVID-19 Impact on Lifestyle Change Survey (COINLICS) was conducted in China, and 10,082 youths reported their screen use, PA, and SC in the months immediately before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown. ⋯ More PC/TV use before lockdown predicted less household-related PA during lockdown (β = -0.142); more phone use during lockdown was a predictor for higher levels of household-related PA (β = 0.106), active transport (β = 0.096), and individual SC (β = 0.072) after lockdown. Phone use was negatively associated with PA through PC/TV use in the more phone use subgroup. Relationships among screen use, PA, and SC dynamically changed during COVID-19, and phone use that was identified as a bridge and a predictor may be the potential action point for health intervention in youths during lockdown.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2023
Exploring the associations between serious psychological distress and the quantity or frequency of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use among pregnant women in the United States.
Serious Psychological Distress (SPD) and prenatal exposure to substances are associated with adverse outcomes for pregnant individuals and their developing offspring. This study aims to examine the relationship between SPD and quantity, or frequency of substance use among pregnant women in the United States (US). Descriptive and negative binomial regression analyses of the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were conducted among 3373 pregnant women (18 to 44 years old) to examine the association between SPD and (1) average number of cigarettes smoked in the past 30 days, (2) number of days of binge drinking in the past 30 days, and (3) number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days. ⋯ Compared to pregnant women who did not report SPD, pregnant women experiencing SPD showed greater rates in the number of cigarettes smoked during the past 30 days (IRR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.1, 4.5), the number of days of binge drinking in the past 30 days (IRR = 5.1, 95%CI = 1.7, 15.4), and the number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days (IRR = 2.9, 95%CI = 1.3, 6.5). Our results extend findings from prior research by documenting an association between SPD and the quantity and frequency of substance use among pregnant women in the US. Individual and structural interventions addressing SPD and/or substance might help reduce the impact of these comorbid conditions on expectant parents and their offspring.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2023
Exploring social determinants of health and physical activity levels in older adults living with mild cognitive impairment and dementia in the Upper Midwest of the United States.
Physical activity can improve physical health for people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia and may have cognitive benefits. Identifying modifiable social factors inhibiting physical activity among this group is needed. We sought to examine the relationship between reported physical activity levels and social determinants of health (SDOH) in a population of older adults living with MCI or dementia. ⋯ Physical inactivity is common among people living with MCI and dementia. Physical activity levels may be influenced by many factors, highlighting potential areas for intervention.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2023
Risks of opioid overdose among New York State Medicaid recipients with chronic pain before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to healthcare disruptions for patients with chronic pain. Following initial disruptions, national policies were enacted to expand access to long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment services, which may have modified risk of opioid overdose. We examined associations between LTOT and/or OUD with fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses, and whether the pandemic moderated overdose risk in these groups. ⋯ Findings demonstrated no significant effect of the pandemic on opioid overdose among people with chronic pain and LTOT and/or OUD, suggesting pandemic policies expanding access to chronic pain and OUD treatment services may have mitigated the risk of opioid overdose.